Change your name (adult born overseas)

Who can apply?

This page explains how to change your name if you are:

• An adult (over 18)
• Born overseas and:
  • Living in Victoria for at least the last 12 months
  • Have the legal right to live in Australia.

Apply to change your name(opens in a new window)

What you’ll need

We'll ask you for the following information during the application process.

Your current details

At a minimum, we’ll ask you for:

• Personal details, such as name and date of birth
• A clear reason for the change of name

• A full credit report (if changing more than one name: for example, your first name and family name).

  Agencies that we accept credit reports from include:

  • illion(opens in a new window)
  • Experian(opens in a new window)
  • Equifax(opens in a new window).

  We can request a credit report, when deemed necessary.

  You can request a credit report from these organisations, even if you don’t have any credit history.

  This demonstrates the name that financial institutions may have known you by, before your change of name application. We can still accept a credit report with no credit history. We can also accept an email or letter from the agency, confirming that you have no credit history.

  You can upload this to your online application.

• Any previous names you've been known by.

You might be using a different name in the community from what is on your birth record (before the change of name). If so, we may ask you for documents linking the different names or a statutory declaration to explain it.

Your chosen name

• Chosen family name(s)
• Chosen given name
• Chosen other given name(s).

Generally, we accept most names. However, there are some names that aren’t allowed. See Naming restrictions.

Original certificate(s)

Have you have changed your name before in Victoria? If so, we ask you to return any previous change of name certificates before we can issue a new one.

If you don't have the original, you need to provide a statutory declaration(opens in a new window) explaining why. Learn more about how to digitise and upload documents.

Proof of living in Victoria

You’ll need to prove that you have been living in Victoria for most of the time in the last 12 months.

You must provide at least one of the documents below. Documents in this list must cover at least the last 12 months.

You only need to provide one of these documents once. If you’ve already provided a document as part of applying or when proving your identity, you don’t need to provide it again.

• Australian Electoral Commission confirmation of enrolment
• Australian private health care statements
• Australian Taxation Office assessment notice
• Bond lodgement notice
• Infringement notices
• Insurance policy
• Letter from a treating doctor
• Letter from an employer
• Payslips
• Rates notice
• Rental agreement (joint name may be acceptable)
• Road-toll statement
• School reports
• Superannuation fund statement
• Utility accounts (for example, electricity, gas, water)

Advise if you are detained or subject to court orders

If you are an offender, you must attach approval from the relevant authority to change your name.

It is an offence to apply without this approval.

How long will it take to get my certificate?

When you apply for a certificate or registration, we email you details of documents you need to provide. Our processing times start when we receive all required documents.

If you didn’t receive an email after applying, contact us.

Allow extra time for public holidays and postage.

Change of name certificate

Legal certificate

When you change your name, you get a change of name certificate. It shows your:

• New name
• Former name.

The back of the certificate shows a history of the changes.

The certificate is valid for all legal and official purposes. You will need this certificate to update identity documents such as your driver licence and passport.

Get a certificate later

You can order another certificate later – for example if you lost it and need a replacement. Get a change of name certificate.

Certificate fees and postage

The fees are non-refundable except as set out on our Refunds page. A fee waiver may be available in certain circumstances of financial hardship.

Certificate fees

Postage

We send legal certificates by express post, for security.

For commemorative certificates, you may only choose standard post. This is because they're not official identity documents. Legal and commemorative certificates will arrive separately.

Payment methods

Pay via credit card, Paypal or BPAY.

After your application is submitted

You‘ll receive an email after submitting your application.

If you didn’t receive an email after applying, first check your spam inbox. If you still don’t have the email, read about common causes of delay.

Once we have everything we need, we’ll complete your application within processing timeframes. We’ll email to let you know when we’ve posted your certificate.

Update your documents

After you've changed your name, you must update your identity documents. These may include:

• Driver licence
• Immigration documents
• Passport (Australian or another country)
• Bank accounts
• Electoral enrolment
• Utility accounts
• Superannuation
• Insurance.

Learn more about updating your other identity documents after you've changed your name.

Apply to change your name(opens in a new window)